Coin testing arrangement for vending machines



A i d114, 1970 v ETAL 4 3,506,104

COIN TESTING ARRANGEMENT FOR VENDING MACHINES Filed July 1'7, 1968FIGTZQ FlG.2b I F|G.2c

INVENTORS Bernhor-d KALSER Ortwin WOKOCK their ATTORNEY United StatesPatent 3,506,104 'COIN TESTING ARRANGEMENT FOR VENDING MACHINES BernhardKaiser, Villingen, Black Forest, and Ortwin Wokiick, Schwenningen,Germany, assignors to Kienzle Apparate G.m.b.H., Villingen, BlackForest, Germany Filed July 17, 1968, Ser. No. 745,581 Claims priority,application Germany, July 20, 1967, K 62,886 Int. 'Cl. G07f 3/02 US. Cl.194102 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A coin testing arrangementhas a guiding structure for guiding tran ported coins, and including aslanted guide surface for guiding the rim of each coin so that coins ofdifferent thickness project different distances toward a sensing meanswhich assumes different positions in accordance with the thickness oftested coins, and starts the vending machine only when sensing a coin ofstandard thickness.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Vending machines, particularly parkingmeters, are known, in which a testing device is provided for sensing thediameter of each inserted coin, and controlling the machine so that thesame starts an operation only if a standard coin having the correctdiameter is inserted so that false coins and slugs cannot start anopeartion. The coin testing apparatus according to the prior art isincapable of distinguishing between coins having the same diameter, butdifferent thickness, which may have different monetary values.Counterfeit coins and slugs having the correct diameter, but differentthicknesses cannot be detected by the prior-art constructions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is one object of the invention to provide acoin testing device capable of distinguishing between coins having thesame diameter, but different thickness.

Another object of the invention is to provide a vending machine, such asa parking meter, with a simple and reliable testing device permitting anoperation only if an inserted coin has a predetermined diameter and apredetermined thickness.

Another object of the invention i to provide a coin testing arrangementwhich distinguishes between the rim of a standard coin, and the sharpannular edges of a turned or stamped-out metal plug.

With these objects in view, a coin testing arrangement according to thepresent invention is characterized by a slanted guide surface on whichthe rim of the tested coin is located during the sensing operation. Theslanted guide surface may be provided on a guide structure, or on asensing means, or slanted guide faces may be provided on both. Theslanted guide surface may be a continuous surface, or have severalsteps, and the angle of the slanted surface is preferably between 30 and45 Coins of different thickness engage different points of the slantedguide surface so that coins having the same diameter but differentthicknesses assume different positions which can be sensed.

Preferably, the coin is pressed by a spring against a guide surfacewhich guides one lateral face of the coin, and the slanted guide facesof the guide structure and of the sensing means define acute angles withthe lateral guide surface.

The particular advantage of the slanted surfaces is that the testingarrangement can be universally used for all kinds of coins even inparking meters which are deice signed for the use of different coins.Another advantage is that not only the thickness of the coin can be usedas a distinguishing characteristic for determining whether the coin isreal or counterfeit, but also that the condition of the edges of therims of the coin has an influence on the testing. This is due to thefact that real coins are generally without sharp edges along the rim,whereas turned and stamped-out plugs have sharp edges which influencethe position of the rim on the slanted surfaces. Real coins haveslightly rounded-off edges along the rim.

If distinguishing between coins having different types of edges is notdesired, and the testing of the thickness is only used for oneparticular coin, instead of a continuously slanted guide surface also astepped guide face can be used which may have, for example, three stepsof different height and width.

One embodiment of the invention comprises a guiding structure forguiding coins and including a first guide surface for guiding onelateral face of each coin, and a second guide surface for guiding afirst rim portion in the region of the other lateral face of the coins,the second guide surface being slanted towards the first guide surfaceso that second rim portions located diametrically opposite the first rimportions are spaced from the lowest point of the slanted second guidesurface the farther the thicker the coin is, transporting mean fortransporting the coins along the first and second surfaces, and sensingmeans for sensing the second rim portions of the coins and being movedto an operative position for starting an operation of the vendingmachine only by the second rim portion of a transported standard coinhaving a standard thickness, and being moved to inoperative positions bythe second rim portions of unacceptable coins whose thickness isdifferent from the thickness of a standard com.

The sensing means preferably includes a sensing memher having a firstguide face at least partly located in the same plane as the first guidesurface, and a second guide face slanting upward toward the first guideface. The first guide face guides a lateral face of the transportedcoins, and the second guide face guides the second rim portion of thetransported coins so that the sensing member is moved the farther awayfrom the guide structure, the greater the thickness of the sensed coinis.

The novel features which are considered a characteristic for theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbe best understood from the following description of specificembodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspectiveview illustrating a coin testing arrangement in accordance with oneembodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 2a, 2b, and 2c are sectional views illustrating the positions ofthree coins of different thickness while being sensed by the apparatusof FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating a detail of thetesting apparatus on an enlarged scale.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS This invention is a furtherimprovemnt of the Time Vending Machine shown in our copendingapplication of B. Kaiser et al., Ser. No. 576,950, filed Sept. 2, 1966,now Patent No. 3,391,772.

FIG. 1 shows a coin 1 in a position in which it is being tested. Coins1a, 1b and 1c of different thickness are illustrated in the same testingposition in FIGS. 2a, 2b,

and 2c. Coin 1 in the position of FIG. 1 was inserted at the level ofthe release lever 3, and has been transported by a transporting finger 3on a transporting wheel rotating in counterclockwise direction whilebeing guided with one lateral face along the guide surface 4 of astationary plate 4. At the same time, the rim of coin 1 rests on a guidesurface 2 which is slanted to guide surface 4', as best seen in FIG. 2a.A resilient leaf spring 5 is secured to plate 4 and has a portionlocated the other lateral face of the coin, pressing the same againstguide surface 4'. Guide surface 2 slants downward toward guide surface 4at an acute angle between and Due to the slant of guide surface 2, notthe entire cylindrical rim, but only one circular edge of the rim restson the slanted guide surface 2, as best seen in FIGS. 2.11 to 2c. Asensing level 9 is mounted on pivot 9 for angu lar movement, and carriesa sensing member in the form of a pin 6. Sensing member 6 has a recessformed by an upwardly slanted guide face 7, and by a guide face 8 whichis located in the same plane as guide surface 4. The guide surface 8 hasa planar surface portion engaging the highest portion of the coin, and asloping surface portion which slopes away from the lateral face of thecoin to a point located outside of the plane in which guide surface 4'is located. The sloping surface portion may be of conical configurationand guides the coin, which is transported by transporting finger 3' incounterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1, until a rim portiondiametrically opposite the rim portion guided on guide surface 2, islocated in the recess formed by the slanted guide face 7 and by theguide face 8.

A coin 1a of standard thickness will place sensing member 6 in theposition of FIG. 2a so that the axis of sensing member 6 coincides withan imaginary axis 20. A thinner coin 1b will not displace sensing member6 so far, as shown in FIG. 2b, and a thicker coin 10 will dis placesensing member farther than a standard coin 1a, aithough all three coinsare assumed to have exactly the same diameter.

Lever 9, which carries sensing member 6, is displaced to differentangular positions when coins of different thickness are sensed bysensing member 6. Lever 9 carries a gear sector 10 meshing with a pinion11 secured to a testing disk 12. At least one tab 13 is mounted ontesting disk 12 and represents by its circumferential position thediameter of a desired standard coin. Tab 13 carries an arresting pin 14,cooperating with a catch hook 15 which is mounted on a lever 16 whoseangular displacement is limited by a stationary stop pin 16a located ina slot 16b of lever 16. The position of tab 13 is sensed by a pin 19 ona feeler lever 21.

A spring 17 is secured to an eccentric point of testing wheel 12 andtends to turn the same in clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 1,together with pinion 11 so that the same turns gear segment 10 andthereby sensing lever 9 with sensing member 5 in counterclockwisedirection toward the sensing position and beyond the same to a terminalposition in which a stop 18 on testing wheel 12 engages an abutment.

When a coin 1 is transported along guide surfaces 2, 4', it arrives inthe sensing position shown in FIG. 1 in which sensing means 6, 9 isdisplaced in counterclockwise direction against the action of spring 17so that testing disk 12 turns in counterclockwise direction an angledepending on the diameter of the tested coin. If the same is a real coinhaving the correct diameter and thick mess, the angle about whichtesting disk 12 turns with tab 13 and arresting pin 14 is just right toplace arresting pin 14 in the hook 15 on the spring biased lever 16 sothat testing disk 12 is momentarily arrested, and spring 17 cannot turntesting wheel 12 back in clockwise direction. in this position, tab 13is located in a desired circumferential position indicating a good coin,and this position is sensed by the feeler means 19, 21 which through aknown mechanism, not shown, sets the pointer of the parking meter to atime corresponding to the value of the inserted coin 1.

In the apparatus according to the prior art, in which no slanted guidesurfaces 2 and 7 are provided, an unacceptable coin having a smallerdiameter than a standard coin will permit a greater displacement oflever 9 so that arresting pin 14 will reach only the position B shown inFIG. 3, and will not be caught by catch hook 15. Consequently, spring 17will turn testing disk 12 with tab 13 in counterclockwise direction whencoin 1 has been transported beyond the sensing means, and feeler means21, 19 will not sense tab 13 and consequently not render the parkingmeter operative. If the coin has too great a diameter, lever 9 will befarther displaced and testing wheel 12 will turn to a position in whicharresting pin 14 is located in the position C in FIG. 3 so that it willnot be caught by the catch hook 15, but permitting spring 17 to turntesting disk 12 in clockwise direction with tab 13, while arresting pin14 moves over the outside of hook 15. Since tab 13 is not arrested inthe correct position, it cannot be sensed by the feeler means 21, 19. Inaccordance with the present invention, all tested coins are assumed tohave the same diameter, but to have different thickness.

As shown in FIG. 2a, a real coin 1a having standard diameter andthickness, and engaging with diametrically located rim portions theslanted guide faces 2 and 7, will place sensing member 6 exactly theimaginary axis 20 in which lever 9 is positioned as shown in FIG. 1 toplace testing disk 12 with tab 13 in the illustrated position in whicharresting pin 14 caught by catch hook 15 so that the correctlypositioned tab 13 can be sensed by feeler means 21, 19, by which thepointer of the parking meter is set to indicate the time period boughtby the respective coin.

A thinner coin 1]:- will not displace sensing member 6 and lever 9 asfar as a real coin 1a since diametricaliy located rim portions thereofare located on the farthest spaced portions of the slanted guidesurfaces 2 and 7. Consequently, the effect on the sensing means 6, 9will be the same as if a coin of smaller diameter would have beeninserted, and testing disk 12 with arresting pin 14 is turned only tothe position B in FIG. 3 so that feeler means 21, 19 cannot sense tab13, and consequently does not start the parking meter. Testing disk 12with arresting pin 14 is turned back in clockwise direction when coin 1bhaspassed sensing member 6 and turns to an initial position in which pin19 abuts the stop 18 so that feeler lever 21 cannot set the pointer ofthe parking meter to a starting position.

If a coin 1c thicker than a standard coin is inserted, diametericallylocated rim portions thereof engage the closest spaced surface portionsof guide surfaces 2 and 7 so that sensing member 6 is displaced beyondthe standard position defined by the imaginary axis 20, as shown in FIG.2c.

Bue to the wide angular displacement of lever 9 by the sensed thick coinIn, testing disk 12 is turned beyond the position shown in FIG. 1 andarresting pin 14 moves beyond hook 15 to the position C. Since book 15cannot arrest testing wheei 12 by catching arresting pin 14, testingdisk 12 with tab 13 is returned in clockwise direction by spring 17, andsince feeler means 21, 19 does not sense a tab 13 in the correctposition, the parking meter is not started.

Only when a standard coin is sensed, catch hook 15 catches arresting pin14 in the position A shown in FIG. 3, so that tab 13 is correctlypositioned and can be sensed by feeler means 21, 19, resulting instarting of the parking meter.

Since a very steep slant of guide surface 2 may cause wedging in of atested coin, and furthermore since even very small differences in thethickness of the coins, and in the sharpness of the rim edges are to besensed, it is preferred to provide in addition to the slanted guide face2, also the slanted guide face 7 in the sensing member 6, but the devicecould function with only a single guide face 2 in the supportingstructure, or with only a single guide face 7 in the sensing member 6.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types oftesting devices for vending machines differing from the types describedabove.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in atesting device for a vending machine responding to different thicknessesof coins having the same diameter, it is not intended to be limited tothe details shown, since various modifications and structural changesmay be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the presentinvention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can be applying current knowledgereadily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the specific or generic aspects of this inventionand, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of thefollowing claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is:

1. Coin testing arrangement for vending machines, comprising, incombination, first means having a first guide surface for guiding onelateral face of a coin and a second guide surface slanted to said firstguide surface and guiding a first rim portion in the region of the otherlateral face of the coin so that a second rim portion locateddiametrically opposite said first rim portion is spaced the farther fromthe point of said slanted first guide surface adjacent said second guidesurface the thicker the coin is; and second means engaging said secondrim portion, one of said first and second means being movable forsensing the displacements of coins having different thickness.

2. Coin testing arrangement for vending machines, comprising incombination, a guiding structure for guiding coins having the samediameter, and including a first guide surface for guiding one lateralface of each coin, and a second guide surface for guiding a first rimportion in the region of the other lateral face of said coins, saidsecond guide surface being slanted downward toward said first guidesurface so that second rim portions located diametrically opposite saidguided first rim portions are spaced from the lowest point of saidslanted second guide surface the farther the thicker the coin is;transporting means for transporting said coins along said first andsecond guide surfaces; and sensing means for sensing said second rimportions of said coins and being moved to an operative position forstarting an operation of the vending machine only by the second rimportion of a transported standard coin having a standard thickness, andbeing moved to inoperative positions by the second rim portions ofunacceptable coins whose thickness is different from the thickness of astandard corn.

3. Coin testing arrangement as claimed in claim 2 wherein saidtransporting means transport said coins along a circular path in whichsaid sensing means is located; and wherein said second guide surface ispartcircular and has the center thereof located in the center of saidcircular path.

4. Coin testing arrangement as claimed in claim 2 wherein said guidestructure includes resilient means abutting the other lateral face ofthe transported coins for urging the same into sliding contact with saidfirst guide surface.

5. Coin testing arrangement as claimed in claim 2 wherein said sensingmeans includes a spring-biassed lever, and a sensing member carried bysaid lever and projecting into the path of movement of said second rimportions of said transported coins so that said lever is displaced apredetermined angle by said second rim portion of a standard coin, andis displaced different angles by said second rim portions ofunacceptable coins; and comprising means controlled by said lever forstarting an operation of said vending machine only when said lever isdisplaced said predetermined angle.

6. Coin testing arrangement as claimed in claim 2 wherein said sensingmeans includes a sensing member having a first guide face at leastpartly located in the same plane as said first guide surface, and asecond guide face slanting upward toward said first guide face, saidfirst guide face guiding said one lateral face of said transportedcoins, and said second guide face guiding said second rim portion oftransported coins in the region of the other lateral face of saidtransported coins whereby said sensing member is moved the farther awayfrom said guide structure the greater the thickness of the sensed coinis.

7. Coin testing arrangement as claimed in claim 6 wherein said firstguide face of said sensing member has a sloping guide surface portionextending from a point outward of said plane into the same for engagingsaid second rim portions in the region of said one lateral face oftransported coins and for guiding the same into contact with said secondguide face.

8. Coin testing arrangement as claimed in claim 2 wherein said sensingmeans includes a spring-biased lever, and a sensing member carried bysaid lever and projecting into the path of movement of said second rimportions of said transported coins, said sensing member having a recessbounded by a first guide face at least partly located in the same planeas said first guide surface, and a second guide face slating upwardtoward said first guide face, said first guide face guiding said onelateral face of said transported coins, and said second guide faceguiding said second rim portion of transported coins in the region ofthe other lateral face of said transported coins so that said lever isdisplaced a predetermined angle by said second rim portion of a standardcoin, and is displaced different angles by said second rim portions ofunacceptable coins; comprising means controlled by said lever forstarting an operation of said vending machine only when said lever isdisplaced said pretermined angle.

9. Coin testing arrangement as claimed in claim 2 wherein said slantedguide surface has a plurality of steps.

10. Coin testing arrangement as claimed in claim 2 wherein said secondguide surface is slanted to said first guide surface at an angle ofbetween 30 and 45.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,289,802 12/1966 Greenwald et al194-99 STANLEY TOLLBERG, Primary Examiner

